A bizarre jewellery shop robbery descended into farce when the owners managed to overpower a gun-toting would-be thief wearing a skirt and wig along with his accomplice.

Now police have praised the bravery of the shop workers after a man wearing a black skirt and long-haired wig pulled out an imitation handgun at the Cradlers shop in Leatherhead High Street on February 19 this year.

Security footage shows how, as he revealed the weapon and was joined by an accomplice in a crash helmet, shop owner David Dyer and worker Frazer Wilson hurled themselves towards the pair, Get Surrey reports.

The scuffle resulted in Mr Wilson fracturing his left cheekbone and left Mr Dyer bleeding “profusely” from a cut to his head.

The man appears nervous as he talks with one of the shop workers (Image: Surrey Police)

Detective Sergeant Joe Easterbrook said: "The two members of staff working that day refused to be intimidated by the suspects and showed tremendous bravery to challenge the two men and stop [the second man] Price from leaving the store until our officers arrived.

"Although the members of staff were both very shaken by what took place fortunately they both only suffered minor injuries during the incident.”

Sergeant John Pearson, and police constables Matthew Savage and Matthew Fitzgibbon were also praised.

The man wearing a black skirt and long-haired wig pulls out an imitation handgun at the Cradlers shop (Image: Surrey Police)

They arrived on the scene after the man dressed in women's clothing had escaped, but arrested the second man and seized the weapon.

Two members of the public helped to detain him and heroin was found inside one of his gloves.

The man in the wig was later identified as Ryan Valentine, 39, of Carlton Road in Walton , and his accomplice as Raymond Price, 45, of Thamesmead.

A court hearing later revealed how Valentine had planned to board a flight to St Lucia at Gatwick Airport four days after the robbery.

Paula Jones, 29, of Grenside Road, Weybridge , tipped off police of his whereabouts after she spent a night with Valentine at the Mecure Hotel in Hayes on February 19.

Shop owner David Dyer launched himself at the men dressed as a woman, grabbing at the weapon (Image: Surrey Police)

Price and Valentine both pleaded guilty to having an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery (Image: Surrey Police)

He was arrested as he went to board the plane to the West Indies on February 23.

Jones was arrested that same day at St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey , where she was recovering from a drugs overdose.

Price and Valentine both pleaded guilty to having an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery. Jones pleaded guilty to one count of assisting an offender.

The court heard Valentine and Price had gone to Cradlers with the aim to steal jewellery to sell on for drugs or to cover drug debts.

Valentine will serve half of a six-year prison sentence in jail. Price was jailed for 45 months and Jones for 15 months.